Page 217 - Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design

CALIFORNIA TITLE 24 ELECTRIC ENERGY COMPLIANCE 193

OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND SIGNS

In response to the electricity crisis in 2000, the California legislature mandated the
CEC to develop outdoor lighting energy efficiency standards that are technologically
feasible and cost-effective. The purpose of the legislation was to develop energy-
efficiency standards that could provide comprehensive energy conservation.

Outdoor astronomical time-switch controls As referenced briefly earlier, out-
door lighting control by means of astrological time switches is permitted if the device is
designed to accommodate automatic multilevel switching of outdoor lighting. Basically,
such a control allows all, half, or none of the outdoor lights to be controlled during
different times of the day for different days of the week while ensuring that the lights are
turned off during the daytime.
Outdoor lighting and sign energy-control measures are intended to conserve energy
and reduce winter peak electric demand. The standards also set design directives for
minimum and maximum allowable power levels when using large luminaries.
Permitted lighting power levels are based on Illuminating Engineering Society of
North America (IESNA) recommendations, which are industry standard practices that
have worldwide recognition. It should be noted that outdoor lighting standards do not
allow tradeoffs between interior lighting, HVAC, building envelope, or water-heating
energy-conformance requirements.

Outdoor lighting tradeoffs Outdoor lighting tradeoffs are allowed only between
the lighting applications with general site-lighting illumination, which includes hard-
scape areas, building entrances without canopies, and outdoor sales lots. The require-
ments do not permit any tradeoffs between outdoor lighting power allowances and
interior lighting, HVAC, building envelope, or water heating. This includes decorative
gas lighting; lighting for theatrical purposes, including stage, film, and video production;
and emergency lighting powered by an emergency source as defined by the CEC.

Mandatory measures The imposed mandatory measures on outdoor lighting
include automatic controls that are designed to be turned off during daytime hours and
during other times when it is not needed. The measures also require that all controls
be certified by the manufacturer and listed in CEC directories. All luminaries with
lamps larger than 175 W are required to have cutoff baffles so as to limit the light
directed toward the ground. Luminaires with lamps larger than 60 W are also required
to be high efficiency or controlled by a motion sensor.
The new CEC standards also limit the lighting power for general site illumination and
for some specific outdoor lighting applications. General site illuminations specifically
include parking lots, driveways, walkways, building entrances, sales lots, and other
paved areas of a site. The measures also provide separate allowances for each of the
previously referenced general site lighting applications and allow tradeoffs among these
applications. In other words, a single aggregate outdoor lighting budget can be calcu-
lated for all the site applications together. Hardscape for automotive vehicular use,